ls1290

iTrader: (20)

If nitrous works so well, why not run pure O2? Afterall nitrous is just suppling more oxygen for the fuel. Based on that, would not O2 be even better? Is the big question of money; cost of nitrous vs oxygen......

Jake99SS

It's actually N2O, 2 nitrogen atoms for every oxygen atom. (no flames intended). If you injected pure oxygen into an engine you'd have a major meltdown on your hands. The 2 nitrogen atoms keep the oxygen from getting too crazy. Even then there are meltdowns if you don't have the fuel to support it.

BensZ28

Yeah what he said! Im sure you've heard of 'liquid nitrogen'? Yeah that keeps it cold. Oxygen gets EXTREMELY hot during any sort of compression. Plus Im pretty sure that N20 can be more easily turned into a liquid and carried than o2

383LQ4SS

iTrader: (33)

Also as nitrous is sprayed it comes out as a sort of "suspension" or "fog" within the surrounding air. Its dispersed between the cylinders fairly easy that way. Pure oxygen would likely have "pockets" in the intake charge resulting in hotter cylinders or even hot spots in the combustion chamber itself. I think the only possibility would be if you could make a direct injection oxygen system. I know its been experimented with several times. Try a search and see what comes up.

Oh...and liquid oxygen...dont even go there. Disaster waiting to happen! <img border="0" alt="[kaboom]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_bomb.gif" />

cantdrv65

iTrader: (3)

N2O is an oxidizer, but not nearly the extent of pure oxygen. With pure oxygen you would have a combustion BOMB. Probably wouldn't even need an ignition source. If you tried an N2 and O2 mix, say 60% N2, and 40% O2 it probably wouldn't explode but you would never get a consistent mix to each cylinder. Nitrous has the perfect mix at the molecular level, you won't find a better source of power except for Nitromethane. Nitromethane is hardly streetable however, not to mention the $$$$$$.

mobius

the reason n2o works is because at 572 degrees the oxygen and nitrogen split this occurs in the cylinder, if you used pure oxygen you would have the flame leaving the cylinders and entering the intake, basically a large explosion, not a good thing.

Gold Phoenix

iTrader: (1)

The nitrogen is more like a buffer to keep the flame travel under control. Without it, it would burn too fast like an explosion.

Street Thug23

damn that would suck

NoGo

iTrader: (2)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by ls1290:
<strong>If nitrous works so well, why not run pure O2? Afterall nitrous is just suppling more oxygen for the fuel. Based on that, would not O2 be even better? Is the big question of money; cost of nitrous vs oxygen......</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Nitrous doesn't just contribut extra oxygen. When you split the nitrous molecule you end up with 2 moles, one of oxygen, and one of nitrogen. If you remember your chemistry, a mole of whatever gas takes up the same amount of volume. So, upon splitting the nitrous molecule you have effectively doubled the compressible gasses in the cylinder and upped the cylinder pressure.

We like the nitrous entering the cylinder. <img border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" title="" src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" />

Pure oxygen would not give us the same expansion benefits.

SuperSound99SS

exactly....to give yall a lil example of the power of o2...here at the local air force base they have o2 storage tanks(not to big, bout the size of good size propane tanks) well if they went up you have an explosion about the size of a small nuclear weapon( bout 1.5-2 kiloton of TNT) <img border="0" alt="[kaboom]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_bomb.gif" />

Chicago Z06

No, pure o2 would be like a cutting torch... no nitrogen to "cushion" the combustion process... all the above are correct examples.. can't be done unless you drive the space shuttle... LOL